Can-deheading machine.



I. D. MILLER. CAN DEHEADING MACHINE.V APPLICATION FILED DEc.'24. |917.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Illllllllllll llllllllllllllllllllll THOIBS D. m 0F GATONSVILLE, mm.

GBH-BEHIEIDING Spedcation o! Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. '1e'. i918.

Application fled December 24, 1917. Serial No. 208,628.

To all 'whom tmay concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS D. Mmmm, a citizen of the United States, atCatonsville, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Deheadin Machines,of which the following is a speci cation.

The present invention relates to a machine for removing the heads fromtin cans in order that the metal of the body portions of the cans may,after removal of the seams, be iattened out and used lfor various pu rposes, such as the manufacture of metal shingles, heads of pa ercanisters, fuse holders for ordnance she s, etc. 'In my Patent No.1,058,379, I have shown a machine kiiiwhich the heads of cylindricalcans are removed by means o saws. There are large numbers of cans,angular in cross-section, which are daily ers after removal of theircontents, andthe sawing machine of the prior atent referred to would notbe suitable for e-heading such cans. In order to conserve the bodiesofcans having angular sides, as well as of cans of cylindrical shape, Ihave provided a,

machine in which the heads of the cans are removed by shearing knives,which first puncture the can bodies and then shear oil? the heads. Thecans are-held between jaws having recesses conforming to the shape ofthe can body, and the knives are preferably V-shaped and are arranged sothat their pointed ends will pass diametrically through the cans whiletheir slanting edges shear the can in opposite directions from the lineof puncture.

While the machine is useful for conserving the metal of old tin cans, itis also useful for quickly remo the heads and simultaneously releasing econtents of cans containing food stuis or other ingredients, when theingredients are to be used.

In the accompaningl drawing,

Figure 1 is a si e evation of the candeheading machine;

Fig. 2 1s a top plan view of the same Fig. 3 is a vertical section onthe e 3-3 of Fig. 2; and, y

, Fig. 4 is a plan view of a pair of jaws for holding an angular can. j

Referring 'to the drawing, 1 indicates a suitably supported table orbed, upon which is mounted a crank shaft 2, which is operatedintermittently from a constantly driven thrown away by household-4 llywheel pulley 3, a suitable one-revolution clutchY 5 being provided forconnecting iy wheel to the crank shaft when it is desired to operate themachine. The rods 6 thev and 7, movable by a hand lever 8, are proyidedfor the purpose of throwing the clutch members into engagement. Anysuitable -orm of clutch that will disengage itself at the end of onerevolution of the crank shaft may be employed, and details of the clutchare not shown.

Upon the bed 1 is arranged a cross-head e, lwhich slides on the bed andis movable back and forth by the crank shaft through the medium of aconnectingrod 9. This cross-head carries two similar shearing knives, lcand lc', arranged one above the other, and projecting forwardl from thecross-head. These lmives, as s own, have V-shaped ends, the points 10 ofthe knives being midway between the guide rails of the bed, and theedges 11' of the knives slopingrearwardly and outwardly. At the-forwardend of the bed is arranged a flxed jaw 12 which, as shown in Fig. 2, hasa semicircular recess 1 2", andopposed to this xed jaw is a movable jaw13, having a correspondingrecess '13, opposed to the recess 12. Therecesses extend vertically inthe adjacent faces of the jaws, and whenthe jaws are brought together, they are adapted to grip and hold thebody of a cylindrical can, in vertical position, with the headsprojecting slightly above and below the-jaws, as indicated in Fig. 3,wherein 14 indicates the can and 14:a the heads thereof. The

jaws are facedy on the top and'bottom by steel plates knives are movablein close engagement with these plates, with which they coperate to shearthe can bodies. The parts are shown in their normal positions in Fig. 2,the jaw 13 being moved away from the jaw 12, and the knives being out ofregistry with the recesses in the jaws.. lThe jaw 13 is connect- 15, andthe cutting ends of the ed with the cross head o by lost motion devicescomprising bolts or rods 16, which are v secured'to thej aw and assloosely through guides 17 in the crosscad, these bolts being providedwith heads 16 at the rear of the cross-heads, so that when the latter isdrawn backward, it will engage the heads of the bolts and pull the jaw13 away from the jaw 12. Between fixed lugs 18 on the frame and the jaw13, springs 18 are interposed, these springs surrounding the rods it.These springs are compressed by the backward movement of the j aw i3,.and when the cross-head moves forward, or to the lett in Fig. 2, thesprings move the jaw 313 torward into gripping engagement with the `canbefore the pointed ends loot the hives engage the can. When the machineis start`- ed into operation by throwing the hand lever 8, the can beingin position between the jaws, it is first irmly gripped by the for wardmovement of the jaw 13, andthen the pointed ends of the knives ypuncturethe can body adjacent the heads and the sloping edges oi the knives, asthe latter move for; ward, cooperate with the shearing edges or theplates l and shear the body in opposite directions from the points ofpuncture, the

points of the knives moving in a diametrical line and rst puncturing thecan at one -side and then at diametrically opposite points5 The canheads are thus cut od" during onehali rrevolution ci the cranh shaft andthe knives are drawn back to normalposition during the succeedinhalirevolution. As the knives move bac ard, the cross-head vengages theheads 16E on the bolts i6 and draws the jaw i3 away from the jaw l2,thus permitting the cle-headed can body to drop downward out oi themachine and compressing the springs i8,

ln order to properly ,position the can body, and to support it until thejaws are closed upon' it, a movable support i9 1s provided beneath theopening 1n the jaws.v This support, as shown, is carried by abell-crank` 20, pivoted at 28, to the undern side of the jaw l2, andlone arm of the bell crank has a slot 20a, engaged by a coupling pin 2laon a sliding rod 2l, which latter is operated at intervals by a caniwheel 22 'lhis cano wheel, as shown, is driven by gears 23 and 2d on thecrank shaft 2, in the direction indicated by the arrow, and it has aearn groove 25 which is engaged by a pin 21b on the rod 2l. ylhis earngroove is so designed that when the crank shalt is at rest, the supporti9 will be below the recesses in the jaws, in position to support a can.When the clutch is tripped and the jaw i3` is moved into grippingengageinent with the can, the cam groove 25 causes the rod 2l to moveforward, or to the lett in Fig. 2, and swi g the support l@ from beneath`the can. The cam groove 25 is so formed that the lsupport will be heldout of line with the can until the knives have sheared od the heads oilthe can and the knives and jaw i3 have returned substantially to theirnorinal Vpositions. When the jaw i3 moves away from the can, the latterdrops down through the recesses between the jaws and the support 19 isthen swung into place to Support the neat can to be operated u on. lithe 'mota is used for opening pull cans, the touen tents will, oi?course dren out when the heads are sheared o l an lie-caught by asuitable receptacle placed beneath the jaws.

lt will be understood that the recesses in the jaws .must correspond inshape and size substantially to the shape and size of the cans to beoperated upon. Thani-there will he did'erent sets of jaws for diderentkinds of cans. For instance, in operating upon old tin cans, the canstalren from' the dumps will be assorted according to their sizes andshapes and when all those of one size and shape have been dts-headed,the jawsjwill be changed to suit another size or shape. ln Fig. d, lhave shown a pair of jaws suitable for a can of square cross-section.lllhen square cans are operated upon, it is desirabel that the pointedends oi the 'knives Ashall puncture the cans at the corners, where thecans are stidened and will not bend inwardly. lior this reason, the jaws2 and 2'?, to hold ,a square can, will have opposed lvl-shaped recesses26a and 27a, which will hold the can so that the lmives will puncture itat its corners. rlhe jaw 26, which is the stationary jaw, is provided onits under-side with a suitable pivot pin 28, shown in dotted lines, uponwhich the bell crank 20, which carries the support 19, may be mountedwhen the jaws are placed in the machine. As the cans vary in height, thejaws :nest knives niust be adjustable to engage the upper and lowersurfaces of the various jaws. As a means for adjusting the knives,adjusting screws 29 are provided in the cross-head, these screws havingcollars 30 at the center, journaled in a support 3l, and the two screwsengaging threaded openings in the knives.. By means of? handles 32, thescrews can .be turned to adjust the lrnives toward and troni one anotherand toward and from the upper and lower surfaces oi the jaws.

The operation or" the invention be clear from the foregoing withoutfurther description. Aitor the `heads have been reinoved'ironi the cans,the seams are rernoved from thecan bodies by suitable mechanism, such asthe searn-reniover shown in nay patent above. referred to, and thebodies are then passed through straightening rolls which Hatten them sothat they can be stacked in piles or used :for various purposes.

What yl claim is:

l. ln a can deheading machine, a `pair of 'jaws adapted to hold a canwith its heads projecting slightlybeyond the jaws, shearing ives onopposite sides of the jaws, and ineens for moving the Vjaws and lmivesrelatively to one another to shear the heads from the can body..

2, lia a can deheag machine, a pair et also vary in height, and the iisjaws adapted to hold a can withv its projecting slightly beyond thejaws, shearing knives on opposite sides of the jaws, said kmves havingpointed ends for puncturing vthe can body, and means for moving the jawsand knives relatively to one another to shear the heads from the canbody.

3. In a can deheading machine, a pair of jaws adapted to hold a can withits heads projecting lslightly beyond the jaws, V- shaped shearingknives on opposite sides of the jaws having their pointed ends adapted,

to enter the cans diametrically, and means for reciprocating the jawsand knives relatively to one another to shear the heads from the canbodies.

4. In a can deheading machine, a pair of jaws adapted to hold a can withits heads projecting slightly beyondthe jaws, shearing the jaws beforethe knives enga can and for openingthe jaws afterthe vive's neath thejaws', sh'earing lmives above and Vyond the jaws,

ing knives on opposite sidesof the jaws, means for moving said knivesback and forth to shear the cans, and means for clise t e have severedthe heads.

5. In a can deheading machine, a pair of jaws'adapted to hold a can, invertical posi,- tion, with its heads projecting slightly besaid jawsbemg normally for the cans nonmally be.

open, a support shearing knives above and neath the jaws,

knives to'shear the cans, means for closing said jaws prior to theengagement of the knives with the can, and means for removing saidsupport after the jaws have closed.

6. In a can deheading machine, a pair of jaws adapted to hold a can, invertical position, with its heads projecting slightly beyond the jaws,said jaws being normally open, a support for the cans normally bevbelowl the jaws, means for reciprocating Iheads said knives to shear thecans, means for clos' ing said jaws prior to the engagement of theknives with the can and for opening the jaws after the knives havesevered the heads, and means for removing said support after thejaws/have closed and for returning said support to normal position afterthe jaws have opened.

7 In a can deheading machine, a suitable.

adapted to hold a can in vertical position with its heads projectingslightly beyond the jaws, a cross-head movable back and forth on thebed, a pair of V-shaped shearing knives movable with' the cross-head andhaving their pointed ends adapted to engage theA can body diametrically,a yielding con# nection between said cross-head and one of said jaws formoving the latter to closed p osltion, and means for reclprocating said,A cross-head. below the jaws, means for reciprocating said 9. In a vcandeheading machine, a suitable bed, a pair of jaws mounted thereon andadapted to hold a can vwith its heads projecting, a crosshead movable onthe bed, shearing knives secured to the cross-head and adapted to engageopposite ends of the jaws, and means for adjusting said knives inopposite directions. I

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature.

THOMAS, D. MILLER.

